Everyone might have felt that tingle or sting in their body part when we sit at a fixed place for a long time. We often choose to ignore such things till the time something serious comes up. But do you know that the numbness also known as “paresthesia” in medical terms can cause great harm.

How it works:
As we all know, the human body contains nerves and blood vessels. Nerves carry messages as electrical impulses to and from our brain, and blood carries oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the body.
Any type of compression in any or the two cause hindrance in their normal functioning. These hindrances in turn affect the nerves to transmit impulses back to the spinal cord and brain, and so the brain interprets the lack of signals as pins and needles in the affected area.
The long-term compression of a particular body part may also lead to permanent nerve damage or dysfunction.
What causes these numbness?
Lifestyle also has a major impact on the nervous system. People, who often fall asleep with their hands below their head may also suffer from this prickling feeling. Here such symptoms are called “Saturday night palsy”. Saturday night palsy affects the radial nerve in the arm.

We also experience these pins and needles when we wear tight jeans. This condition is called “Tingling thigh syndrome” and “tight jean syndrome”. The feeling in the outer part of the thighs are caused due to the compression of a nerve called the “lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh”.

In any of the case you should meet a doctor or consult a physiotherapist if the pain persists for a long time.

There are numerous other instances which cause such a situation, but in any case, it must not be ignored. Pins and needles is a way of telling that something is wrong, so pay attention to what your body tells you.

Source: indiatimes.com